Candle maker to open Pulaski facility

Polish candle maker Korona S.A. announced Friday it will open a production facility in Pulaski County, creating 170 new jobs.

Korona, which is one of the largest candle producers in the world, will spend $18.3 million to open its first U.S. facility.

“In Virginia and Pulaski County, we have found the ideal elements for our business to succeed and grow,” Friedrich Rather, chairman of Korona, said in a statement. “Our location search took over eight months and encompassed three states. In the end, we felt right at home in Virginia with the ideal climate conditions for our business, the right workforce capabilities and training programs, and the right building.”

Rather also credited Virginia local and state officials for their support in the company’s site selection process.

Gov. Bob McDonnell approved a $600,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Pulaski with the project.

Korona is a supplier of private label products for global companies and a major producer of scented candles in Europe. The company's core business is development, design, production and sale of candle products: tea lights, pillar candles and candles in glass jars in a wide range of sizes, colors and fragrances.